03/15/2010 - Edith A. (Edie) Neyens

A Mass of Christian Burial for Edith A. (Edie) Neyens, age 90, of Chadron and Martin, SD will be Monday, March 15, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron with Fathers Tim Stoner and Ed Cortney officiating.

A vigil service will be Sunday, March 14th at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 7:00 PM.

A memorial has been established for St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

Edith A. (Edie) Neyens, a longtime resident of Chadron, Nebraska and Martin, South Dakota passed away at her home March 9, 2010. She would have been 91 years old on March 17.

Edie was born March 17, 1919 in Colome, South Dakota to James Benedict and Mary Margaret Foley Pettit.  She resided in Tripp County, South Dakota for 65 years before moving to Chadron, Nebraska in 1984.  Edie was married to the love of her life, Jerome Neyens on April 27, 1946.  Jerome and Edie lived as farmers in the Tripp County area for 38 years until their move to Chadron, Nebraska to retire.  They spent many years enjoying different rock clubs and traveling throughout the United States.  A major blow to Edie’s life was the death of Jerome on March 24, 1988.

Edie enjoyed her family contacts throughout her life and as one of her nephews stated, “She was the matriarch of the Pettit family”.  She particularly enjoyed attending church and visiting with her many friends that she had made because of her friendly manner.   

Edie and Jerome had no children of their own, but enjoyed each and every one of their family relations and especially their nieces and nephews.  Edie was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome, her sister, Margaret Holden and brothers James, Ralph and Norbert Pettit.  She is survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. 

Saint Francis of Assisi’s prayer was especially loved by Edie.  “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.  O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.